The UCLA Bruins kicked off their season with a hard-fought 80-74 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles, but the game raised several concerns about the team”s performance. Despite holding a 15-point lead in the second half, the No. 12 ranked Bruins struggled to maintain offensive consistency throughout the game. The Eagles, representing the Big Sky Conference, displayed their tenacity and managed to close the gap to just six points as the final buzzer sounded.
Throughout the match, the Eagles utilized a balanced scoring attack, with six players contributing at least eight points. Leading the charge for Eastern Washington was Isaiah Moses, who scored 15 points. The Eagles” defensive strategy, particularly their zone defense, effectively disrupted the Bruins” offensive rhythm, especially early in the game.
Three key observations emerged from UCLA”s season opener. First, Dent may be even better than anticipated. In his debut, he led the Bruins with 21 points, four rebounds, and nine assists, shooting 8-of-17. His strong first half was crucial in preventing Eastern Washington from taking control. While Dent”s influence waned in the second half, it was primarily due to other Bruins starting to contribute offensively.
Secondly, Skyy Clark had a night to forget. Despite being a player of considerable hype heading into the season, he struggled to find his rhythm. Although Clark started the game efficiently, his performance declined as he finished with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting. His questionable decisions on offense late in the game led head coach Mick Cronin to favor Trent Perry, who scored 11 points off the bench, as the game progressed.
Lastly, Cronin”s demeanor during the game was notably less intense than usual, which may indicate his confidence in the team to rally and finish strong. While he likely expressed his discontent at halftime and postgame, his calm approach suggests he expects the Bruins to rise to the occasion in future games. This expectation speaks volumes about the standards he sets for his players.
As the season unfolds, it will be essential for the Bruins to address these concerns and improve their performance. For daily updates and analysis on UCLA Bruins basketball, fans should follow the latest on @UCLAInsideronSI and @cmorenoNBA.
